Telekinesis

Directed by Patrick Stanton, the video features Telekinesis frontman Michael Benjamin Lerner working in an abandoned factory. Stanton told NPR, “I liked the thought of Michael being a bit of a hero by dusting off a defunct factory and putting some life back into it. [The song] has such a great driving rhythm and a mysteriously dark feel that I knew it would be perfect for this visual concept.”

Watch the video for “Empathetic People” now

Telekinesis is currently on tour with a show tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. Dormarion is available now on CD, LP and digital in the Merge store.

Telekinesis on tour:
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom%
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall%
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore%
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern%
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop%
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall%
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon%
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry%
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room%
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge%
May 22 Nampa, ID Flying M Coffee
May 24 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
% = w/ Deep Sea Diver

Dormarion is in stores and available from Merge now! See Michael Benjamin Lerner & his fantastic live band on tour in April!

Telekinesis mastermind Michael Benjamin Lerner wrote the 12 songs that comprise Dormarion in early 2012 with the original intention of recording the album completely on his own. Instead, he road-tripped over the summer and made the record in two weeks with Spoon drummer Jim Eno in his Austin, TX studio, Public Hi-Fi. On Dormarion Lane, to be specific. In their introduction to the First Listen feature on Dormarion, NPR Music declared, “every second of the record is as marvelous as it is meticulous.”

Watch the video for “Ghosts and Creatures,” read Michael’s Turntable feature at Stereogum, check out the mixtape he made for The A.V. Club, and hear acoustic versions of new songs as well as a Teenage Fanclub cover live from the SPIN offices.

When you see Telekinesis perform on tour starting later this month, Lerner will be backed by Erik Walters of The Globes on guitar, Say Hi’s Eric Elbogen on bass, and Rebecca Cole of Wild Flag and The Minders on keyboards. Visit the Merge tour page for a full list of Telekinesis tour dates.

Dormarion is available now on CD, LP and digital in the Merge store. Also, available at your local record store, at iTunes, Amazon, Spotify & Rdio.

Formed in December of 2011, Barren Girls hail from the tight-knit Raleigh, NC, punk scene. Hell Hymns is a collection of four succinct songs that tackle paranoia, heartbreak and other personal issues through the lens of gritty, rowdy garage rock.

Brooklyn Vegan describes the EP, “Like many great punk EPs, Hell Hymns doesn’t overstay its welcome (four songs in under ten minutes) and leaves you begging for that full length. Or just hitting play again when it ends.” Stereogum praised Barren Girls’ sound calling it, “demented, organ-dominated garage-prog,” while the Independent Weekly calls it “giddily psychedelic and decidedly antagonistic.”

See Barren Girls on tour this spring including dates with Marnie Stern & Bob Mould!

Find Hell Hymns now on 7-inch vinyl and digital in the Merge store. Also, available at your local record store, at iTunes, Amazon, Spotify & Rdio.

Telekinesis is both a band and a person. It’s taken Michael Benjamin Lerner, now a wizened, grizzled 26-year-old, four years to come to terms with this and understand what responsibilities it does and does not entail, although one would not, from listening to its/his previous two albums, 2009′s self-titled debut and 2011′s 12 Desperate Straight Lines, detect any hint of confusion or self-doubt, aside from the songs that were directly about confusion or self-doubt. His third album, Dormarion, is, then, in ways both practical and profound, the sound of a man figuring out exactly who he is.

Listen to Dormarion now at NPR Music’s First Listen

NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson writes, “With its 12 songs jammed into an airtight 35 minutes, Dormarion (out April 2) expands Telekinesis’ palette to encompass the ominous — if ultimately agreeable — buzz of “Ghosts and Creatures,” but every second of the record is as marvelous as it is meticulous. The effect is one of likability wielded as a weapon; a charm offensive that’s unrelenting, but never suffocating in its desire to get everything right.”

Watch the video for “Ghosts and Creatures” and acoustic versions of new songs live from the SPIN offices.

Preorder Dormarion on CD or LP in the Merge store and receive a free, limited edition flexi-disc of a demo version of “Ghosts and Creatures” while supplies last. LP preorders will include a free Merge Records slipmat.

Telekinesis on tour:
April 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge*
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill*
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo*
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah*
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom*
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish*
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf*
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
May 4 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn%
May 5 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506%
May 6 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage%
May 7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s%
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom%
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall%
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore%
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern%
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop%
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall%
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon%
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry%
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room%
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge%
May 22 Nampa, ID Flying M Coffee
May 24 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
* = w/ Mount Moriah
% = w/ Deep Sea Diver

Directed by Arman Bohn, The A.V. Club describes the video, “‘Ghosts And Creatures’ finds frontman Michael Lerner crushing hard on a triangle-faced lady trapped in a computer, fighting a bearded bad guy, and learning how to solder. It might sound weird, but it’s all in the name of love.”

Watch the video for “Ghosts and Creatures” now at The A.V. Club

On a recent trip to NYC, Michael Benjamin Lerner stopped by the SPIN offices to play acoustic versions of two songs from Dormarion as well as a Teenage Fanclub cover. He also talked about a few of his “favorite things.” Read & watch now at Spin.com

When you see Telekinesis perform this year, Lerner will be backed by Erik Walters of The Globes on guitar, Say Hi’s Eric Elbogen on bass, and Rebecca Cole of Wild Flag and The Minders on keyboards. A full list of tour dates is below.

Preorder Dormarion on CD or LP in the Merge store and receive a free, limited edition flexi-disc of a demo version of “Ghosts and Creatures” while supplies last. LP preorders will include a free Merge Records slipmat.

Telekinesis on tour:
April 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge*
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill*
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo*
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah*
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom*
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish*
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf*
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
May 4 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn%
May 5 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506%
May 6 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage%
May 7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s%
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom%
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall%
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore%
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern%
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop%
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall%
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon%
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry%
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room%
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge%
May 22 Nampa, ID Flying M Coffee
May 24 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
* = w/ Mount Moriah
% = w/ Deep Sea Diver

Visit the Merge store to sample the most recent albums from all of the bands, and to pre-order their upcoming releases! Check out the Merge SoundCloud page for songs to hear now, too!

Merge 2013 SXSW Showcase
Thursday, March 14
The Parish (214 E. 6th St.)
8pm BARREN GIRLS
9pm WILLIAM TYLER
10pm MIKAL CRONIN
11pm MOUNT MORIAH
12am TELEKINESIS
1am SHOUT OUT LOUDS

Tuesday 3.12
9:30 pm DIVINE FITS Cirque du Soleil event – ACL Live at the Moody Theater (310 W. Willie Nelson)
12:30 am DIVINE FITS VICE showcase (401 E. Cesar Chavez)

Wednesday 3.13
1:35 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Under the Radar party – Flamingo Cantina (515 E. 6th)
2 pm MOUNT MORIAH Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe)
5 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Paste party – The Stage on Sixth (508 E. 6th)
1 am DIVINE FITS IFC showcase – Vice Bar (302 E. 6th)

Thursday 3.14
9:30 am DIVINE FITS KGSR broadcast – W Austin (200 Lavaca)
12:10 pm WILLIAM TYLER Chicken Ranch party – Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe)
12:30 pm MOUNT MORIAH Paste party – The Stage on Sixth (508 E. 6th)
2 pm WILLIAM TYLER End of an Ear (2209 S. 1st)
2:05 pm MIKAL CRONIN Pitchfork party – 1100 Warehouse [inside] (1100 E. 5th)
4 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Filter party – Cedar Street Courtyard (208 W. 4th)
4:30 pm TELEKINESIS Music by the Slice – Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress)
4:30 pm WILLIAM TYLER Flatstock Stage curated by Panache – Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez)
8 pm MERGE SHOWCASE The Parish (214 E. 6th)
12 am DIVINE FITS Filter showcase – Lustre Pearl (97 Rainey)

Friday 3.15
12 pm DIVINE FITS Public Radio Day Stage – Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez)
12 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Rolling Stone party – La Zona Rosa (612 W. 4th)
1:30 pm TELEKINESIS KEXP live broadcast – Mellow Johnny’s (400 Nueces)
1:30 pm WILLIAM TYLER Music by the Slice – Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress)
2 pm MIKAL CRONIN Trouble in Mind showcase – Tillery Park (801 Tillery)
2 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Brooklyn Vegan party – Old Emo’s (E. 6th & Red River)
2:10 pm MOUNT MORIAH Music by the Slice – Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress)
5 pm SHOUT OUT LOUDS Filter party – Clive Bar (609 Davis)
6 pm DIVINE FITS w/ Jim James – Auditorium Shores (800 W. Riverside Dr.)
8:25 pm MIKAL CRONIN Panache showcase – Hotel Vegas [outside stage] (1500 E. 6th)

Saturday 3.16
1 pm MIKAL CRONIN Waterloo Records (600A N. Lamar)
1:30 pm MOUNT MORIAH KDHX Twangfest – Broken Spoke (3201 S. Lamar)
5:15 pm TELEKINESIS A.V. Club party – The Mohawk [inside] (912 Red River)

See the new band having fun at rehearsal, and get your tickets for their upcoming tour!

Telekinesis on tour:
March 13-17 Austin, TX SXSW
April 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge*
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill*
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo*
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah*
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom*
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish*
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf*
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
May 4 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn%
May 5 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506%
May 6 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage%
May 7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s%
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom%
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall%
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore%
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern%
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop%
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall%
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon%
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry%
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room%
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge%
May 22 Nampa, ID Flying M Coffee
May 24 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
* = w/ Mount Moriah
% = w/ Deep Sea Diver

Telekinesis will release Dormarion on April 2. Following a visit to the SXSW Music Festival in March, the band will begin their tour with Mount Moriah as support in Portland on April 21 and continue through Birmingham on May 3. The new Telekinesis band features Rebecca Cole of Wild Flag, Erik Walters of The Globes and Eric Elbogen of Say Hi. Telekinesis will conclude their first tour in support of Dormarion with the Sasquatch Festival on May 24.

Mount Moriah will release Miracle Temple on February 26, and have already announced tour dates beginning March 6 in Charleston, multiple appearances at the SXSW music festival, and their album release show at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC on April 12. William Tyler, whose Merge debut Impossible Truth will be in stores on March 19, will also join Mount Moriah on several dates and perform at SXSW.

A full list of dates for both bands is below. Visit the tour section of our website for updates and download our free Merge app for your Apple or Android mobile device to meet up with other Merge fans at the shows.

Telekinesis’ Dormarion is available for pre-order on CD and LP in the Merge store. Preorders will include a free, limited edition flexi-disc of a demo version of “Ghosts and Creatures” while supplies last. Mount Moriah’s Miracle Temple is also available for pre-order on CD and LP. LP preorders for both will include a free Merge Records slipmat.

Telekinesis on tour:
March 13-17 Austin, TX SXSW
April 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge*
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill*
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo*
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah*
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom*
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish*
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf*
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
May 4 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn%
May 5 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506%
May 6 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage%
May 7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s%
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom%
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall%
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore%
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern%
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop%
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall%
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon%
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry%
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room%
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge%
May 22 Nampa, ID Flying M Coffee
May 24 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
* = w/ Mount Moriah
% = w/ Deep Sea Diver

Mount Moriah on tour:
March 6 Charleston, SC Tin Roof
March 7 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
March 8 Orlando, FL Will’s Pub%
March 9 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn%
March 10 Mobile, AL Alabama Music Box&
March 11 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon&
March 13-17 Austin, TX SXSW
March 18 Chicago, IL Schubas
March 19 Detroit, MI Magic Stick Lounge
March 20 Toronto, ON The Drake
March 21 Montreal, QC Casa del Popolo
March 22 Boston, MA Cafe 939
March 23 New Haven, CT Cafe Nine
March 25 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
March 26 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
March 27 Washington, DC DC 9
April 4 Winston-Salem, NC Phuzz Fest
April 12 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
April 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge*
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill*
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo*
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah*
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom*
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish*
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf*
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
% = w/ William Tyler
& = w/ William Tyler & Dent May
* = w/ Telekinesis

Telekinesis is both a band and a person. It’s taken Michael Benjamin Lerner, now a wizened, grizzled 26-year-old, four years to come to terms with this and understand what responsibilities it does and does not entail, although one would not, from listening to its/his previous two albums, 2009’s self-titled debut and 2011’s 12 Desperate Straight Lines, detect any hint of confusion or self-doubt, aside from the songs that were directly about confusion or self-doubt. His third album, Dormarion, is, then, in ways both practical and profound, the sound of a man figuring out exactly who he is. Also, it’s a total fucking hoot.

Lerner wrote the 12 songs that comprise Dormarion in early 2012—half at his home in West Seattle and half at his family’s house in the San Juan Islands—with the original intention of recording the album completely on his own. Instead, he road-tripped over the summer and made the record in two weeks with Spoon drummer Jim Eno in his Austin, TX studio, Public Hi-Fi. On Dormarion Lane, to be specific. “It’s a beautiful-sounding word, and if you Google it, nothing but this one tiny street comes up,” says Lerner, although this is obviously about to change. “No origin, no description. I can’t tell you what the word means. It’s like something from Lost.”

So there’s two drummers, and no one else, collaborating shoulder-to-shoulder on a musically adventurous album containing two centerpiece songs on which there are no drums whatsoever. The breakthrough, musically and otherwise, came with the eighth song written for the record, “Ghosts and Creatures,” a keyboard-driven, spacey, and darn near Goth turn that marks a conscious departure from his guitar-bass-drums power-pop racket. “That was the most unlike-me song I’d ever written.”

When you see Telekinesis perform this year, Lerner will be backed by Erik Walters of The Globes on guitar, Say Hi’s Eric Elbogen on bass, and Rebecca Cole of Wild Flag and The Minders on keyboards.

Along with album details, Stereogum premiered “Ghosts and Creatures” from Dormarion. Listen & share below via the Merge SoundCloud page.

Preorder Dormarion on CD or LP in the Merge store and receive a free, limited edition flexi-disc of a demo version of “Ghosts and Creatures” while supplies last. LP preorders will include a free Merge Records slipmat.

Telekinesis on tour:
Mar 13-17 Austin, TX SXSW
Apr 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Apr 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
April 25 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
April 26 Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar
April 27 San Diego, CA Casbah
April 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
April 30 Austin, TX The Parish
May 1 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf
May 3 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
May 4 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
May 5 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
May 6 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage
May 7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
May 9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
May 10 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall
May 11 Montreal, QC Il Motore
May 12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
May 14 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
May 15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
May 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry
May 18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
May 20 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

Lil Meebles top 10 for 2012 (in no particular order) + a Bonus Spotify Playlist!

Chris Staples – American Soft
Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel is Wiser….
Hospitality – S/T
Nada Surf – The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
The Shins – Port Of Marrow
The Walkmen – Heaven
Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
Father John Misty – Fear Fun
Beach House – Bloom
The Cribs – In the Belly of the Brazen Bull

Favorite Reissues of 2012

Donnie & Joe Emerson – Dreamin’ Wild
Karen Dalton – 1966
Lee Hazlewood – The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes and Backsides (1966-71)
Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram
Ray Stinnett – A Fire Somewhere

My favorite Television shows watched in 2012, some not actually from 2012

Homeland

I watched almost all of season one on a trip to New York City recently, and I couldn’t believe how each episode kept my interest. It’s no wonder this show     has been awarded so many accolades as of late. And MANDY PATINKIN. Come on.

Dexter

I’m so entrenched in this show, even though it sometimes verges on really super cheesy and predictable. I have sipped the Dexter Kool Aid, and now I am hooked in deep.

Breaking Bad

Similar to Dexter, I started watching Breaking Bad, and felt like it was pretty cheesy, and predictable. That all changed after the first and second season. This show makes me have so much wonderful anxiety, and the last episode of Season Five was such a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see the next season.

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

This might be a controversial choice, but I downloaded all of season one, and literally watched all of the episodes over the course of the day. Say what you will about this family, but they have FUN. Like, capital F FUN. I think they are a charmingly normal family, and the ‘sketti episode is absolutely amazing. There are some serious unintentional comedic gems in some of these episodes.

Battlestar Galactica

Just like it is depicted in the Portlandia episode, my girlfriend and I got SO obsessed with this. It’s SO good.

Freaks & Geeks

I had never watched this, but it recently became available on Netflix. What an incredible show, with some incredible people that were destined to become famous movie stars, and directors. I have no idea why this only went for one season. It’s one of the best coming of age shows ever made.

Six Feet Under

My girlfriend had seen all of these, but they were on HBO go, so we watched them together. What an absolute achievement of a show. The last episode made me cry my eyes out, and that’s hard to get me to do!

Girls

I think Lena Dunham is awesome, and she is taking crazy risks, and that’s so refreshing. I really enjoy this show.

William Tyler has long been associated with Merge through his lengthy career as multi-instrumentalist in Lambchop. His 2011 debut solo album was described by Pitchfork as “arguably the most vital, energized album by an American solo guitarist in a decade or more.”

Reigning Sound was formed in 2001 by Memphis garage-punk legend Greg Cartwright, who is also known for his bands The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivians. The A.V. Club says: “Cartwright’s songwriting draws on Stax, Sun, and the Brill Building, combining a classic pop structure—simple and memorable—with a fair amount of only-got-this-studio-booked-for-an-hour immediacy.”

We look forward to releasing albums by both artists in 2013.

To celebrate, we are hosting our first CMJ showcase since 2008! Tickets are on sale this Friday via the Mercury Lounge. Come help us welcome our new bands and revel in the Merge!

Merge Records Showcase
Thursday, October 18 @ Mercury Lounge
217 E. Houston St. b/t Ludlow & Essex

Show starts at 7:30 pm

In order from first to last:
William Tyler
Mac McCaughan
Eleanor Friedberger
Mount Moriah
Telekinesis
Reigning Sound

These are a few of my favorite things!

TOP 10 RECORDS:
1.) M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
2.) Butcher The Bar – For Each A Future Tethered
3.) Hospitality – S/T
4.) Sloan – The Double Cross
5.) St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
6.) Stephen Malkmus – Mirror Traffic
7.) Wilco – The Whole Love
8.) The Wild Beasts – Smother
9.) Wild Flag – S/T
10.) Yellow Ostrich – The Mistress

TOP 5 NEW OLD MUSICAL DISCOVERIES:
1.) Harry Nilsson – Sings Randy Newman
2.) Simple Minds – New Gold Dream
3.) Elastica – S/T
4.) 999 – Concrete
5.) Dead Moon – The Graveyard

TOP 5 TELEVISION SHOWS STREAMING ON NETFLIX:
1.) Breaking Bad
2.) Mad Men
3.) First 48
4.) BIlly The Exterminator
5.) How It’s Made

Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner

Visit his page to donate & watch his moustache progress!

Telekinesis joins The Wedding Present, Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch, Stars and more to contribute covers of more than 20 classic songs by The Smiths for a new tribute album to be released by American Laundromat Records on December 13.

The double-CD set is available for pre-order in three configurations: a $13 bundle, which includes the CD and a one-inch promo pin; a $20 bundle, which includes the CD, a limited-edition 7-inch with three more covers, a download of those tracks, and the pin; or a $35 bundle, which includes the CD, the 7-inch, the downloads, the pin, a T-shirt and a “private preview of the album.”

For a full tracklisting and to pre-order your copy of this Smiths Tribute, visit alr-music.com. Telekinesis’ latest release 12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

To celebrate, all physical Telekinesis items are on sale in the Merge store through the weekend, and 12 Desperate Straight Lines is on sale at iTunes!

Telekinesis on tour:
# w/ Death Cab for Cutie
Sep 30 Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music #
Oct 01 Champaign, IL – University of Illinois – Assembly #
Oct 02 St. Louis, MO – Vintage Vinyl (in-store performance @ 3pm)
Oct 02 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant #
Oct 03 Kansas City, MO – Midland Theater #
Oct 05 Memphis, TN – Mud Island Amphitheatre #
Oct 06 Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre #
Oct 07 Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre #
Oct 10 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theatre #
Oct 11 Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall #
Oct 13 Orlando, FL – Beacham Theater w/ The New Pornographers
Oct 14 Tallahassee, FL – The Moon w/ The New Pornographers
Oct 15 Pensacola Beach, FL – De Luna Fest

Telekinesis

Telekinesis recently recorded five songs for Reverb’s Mile Marker feature. Video, audio, and lots of photos can be found here.

Order your copy of 12 Desperate Straight Lines on CD, LP, and digital download now in the Merge store, and be sure to catch one of Telekinesis’ electric live shows this fall!

Telekinesis on tour:
# – w/ Death Cab for Cutie
$ – w/ The New Pornographers
Sep 09 Chicago, IL – AV Fest
Sep 17 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Festival
Sep 30 Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music #
Oct 01 Champaign, IL – University of Illinois – Assembly Hall #
Oct 02 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant #
Oct 03 Kansas City, MO – Midland Theater #
Oct 05 Memphis, TN – Mud Island Amphitheatre #
Oct 06 Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre #
Oct 07 Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre #
Oct 10 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theatre #
Oct 13 Orlando, FL – Beacham Theater $
Oct 14 Tallahassee, FL – The Moon $
Oct 15 Pensacola Beach, FL – De Luna Fest

Click to watch the video interview at CNN.com!

Telekinesis are finishing up their second leg of dates supporting 12 Desperate Straight Lines and have added a couple of festival shows coming soon!

12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Telekinesis on tour:
June 6 Bloomington, IN Russian Recording
June 8 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
July 23 Seattle, WA Capitol Hill Block Party
Oct 15 Pensacola Beach, FL De Luna Fest

Michael Benjamin Lerner & Cody Votolato recently covered Superchunk’s classic, “Nu Bruises,” and you can now listen at Alternative Press!

Telekinesis is currently on tour with Portugal. The Man. Check them out on the road, and politely request that they play the cover! 12 Desperate Straight Lines is in stores now!

May 09 Tucson, AZ Solar Culture
May 11 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
May 12 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
May 13 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 14 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 16 Columbia, MO Mojo’s
May 17 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
May 19 Little Rock, AR Revolution
May 20 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
May 21 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s
May 22 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
May 24 Nashville, TN The End
May 25 Columbus, OH Outland on Liberty
May 26 Cleveland, OH House of Blues – Cambridge Room
May 27 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
May 28 Syracuse, NY The Westcott Theater
May 30 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom
May 31 New Haven, CT Cafe Nine
June 03 New York, NY Webster Hall
June 05 Cincinnati, OH MOTR Pub
June 06 Bloomington, IN Russian Recording
June 08 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern

Michael, Cody & Jason give a “fuzz-pop” spin to this Belle and Sebastian classic, and Michael is the first “singing drummer” to visit the round room.

Watch & listen to Telekinesis covering “Dylan in the Movies” by Belle and Sebastian

Telekinesis will head out on tour with Portugal. The Man starting this Friday in Portland, OR and have just added a few fill-in headlining dates along the way. Go see them! 12 Desperate Straight Lines is available now on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Telekinesis on tour:
* with Portugal. The Man
Apr 29 Portland, OR Roseland Theater*
Apr 30 Seattle, WA The Showbox*
May 5 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s*
May 6 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
May 7 Anaheim, CA House of Blues*
May 8 Scottsdale, AZ Martini Ranch*
May 9 Tucson, AZ Solar Culture
May 11 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep*
May 12 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre*
May 13 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater*
May 14 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater*
May 16 Columbia, MO Mojo’s
May 17 Kansas City, MO Record Bar*
May 19 Little Rock, AR Revolution*
May 20 Dallas, TX Granada Theater*
May 21 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s*
May 22 New Orleans, LA Circle Bar
May 24 Nashville, TN The End
May 25 Columbus, OH Outland on Liberty*
May 26 Cleveland, OH House of Blues  Cambridge Room*
May 27 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace*
May 28 Syracuse, NY The Westcott Theater*
May 30 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom*
June 3 New York, NY Webster Hall*

Telekinesis’ 12 Desperate Straight Lines is available now on CD, LP and digital download.

Telekinesis on tour w/ Portugal. The Man:
Apr 29 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Apr 30 Seattle, WA The Showbox
May 5 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
May 6 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
May 7 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
May 8 Scottsdale, AZ Martini Ranch
May 11 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
May 12 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
May 13 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 14 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 17 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
May 19 Little Rock, AR Revolution
May 20 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
May 21 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s
May 25 Columbus, OH Outland on Liberty
May 26 Cleveland, OH House of Blues – Cambridge Room
May 27 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
May 28 Syracuse, NY The Westcott Theater
May 30 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom
June 3 New York, NY Webster Hall

Telekinesis has just announced tour dates beginning later this month with Portugal. The Man and you can watch an interview with Michael and John Norris from SXSW at Noisevox.

12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Watch the video for “Please Ask for Help” now!

12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Telekinesis will join Portugal. The Man on tour beginning April 29 in Portland and ending June 3 in New York City. Don’t miss them!

Telekinesis on tour:
*All shows with Portugal. The Man
Apr 29 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Apr 30 Seattle, WA The Showbox
May 5 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
May 6 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
May 7 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
May 8 Scottsdale, AZ Martini Ranch
May 11 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
May 12 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
May 13 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 14 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theater
May 17 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
May 19 Little Rock, AR Revolution
May 20 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
May 21 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s
May 25 Columbus, OH Outland on Liberty
May 26 Cleveland, OH House of Blues – Cambridge Room
May 27 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
May 28 Syracuse, NY The Westcott Theater
May 30 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom
June 3 New York, NY Webster Hall

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store. And watch this video of Telekinesis joining The Love Language on stage for “Brittany’s Back” at the last show of their co-headlining tour!

The Love Language on tour:

Apr 9 Augusta, GA  Sky City
Apr 10 New Orleans, LA  Hi Ho Lounge
Apr 11 Houston, TX  Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Apr 12 Austin, TX  Stubb’s Jr.
Apr 14 Tucson, AZ  Solar Culture Gallery
Apr 16 Indio, CA  Coachella
Apr 18 Sante Fe, NM  Sante Fe Convention Center with Arcade Fire
Apr 19 Norman, OK  The Opolis
Apr 20 Little Rock, AR  Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
Apr 21 Nashville, TN  The End
Apr 22 Knoxville, TN  The Pilot Light
Apr 23 Greensboro, NC  Blind Tiger
May 13 Birmingham, AL  Secret Stages Fest

photo by Renata Steiner/Nataworry Photography

Jason Narducy, Cody Votolato, and Michael Benjamin Lerner visited KEXP during release week last month for a live session! Video of the set is online now!

Tracks:
Country Lane
Please Ask for Help
Dirty Thing
50 Ways

Click here to view the embedded video.

Visit the Merge store to sample the most recent albums from all seven bands, and to pre-order their upcoming releases!

Merge @ SXSW 2011
Friday, March 18
The Parish (214 E. 6th Street)
Austin, TX
Doors at 7p

WILD FLAG 12:45a
Wye Oak 11:45p
Versus 10:45p
American Music Club 9:45p
Telekinesis 9p
Apex Manor 8:15p
Times New Viking 7:30p

Also, we are joining forces with the Home Slice Pizza “Music by the Slice” party again!

Home Slice Pizza
MXTS Party
1415 South Congress
Austin, TX

Thursday, March 17
Apex Manor 3:30 p
American Music Club 5p

Friday, March 18
Versus 1p

Saturday, March 19
Times New Viking 2:20 p
Wye Oak 3:30 p

Be sure to follow Merge on twitter and check back for more opportunities to see our bands at SXSW!

Click to view the Merge Madness poster in full!

To celebrate “Merge Madness,” local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Superchunk kicks off the madness on March 4 with their first show at the Cat’s Cradle since before the release of Majesty Shredding. Next, WILD FLAG will play Local 506 on March 11. WILD FLAG is the new “supergroup” featuring Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss and Rebecca Cole. On March 12, Wye Oak will celebrate the release of their third album Civilian at Local 506. Telekinesis and The Love Language will wrap up Merge Madness on March 13 with an already sold out show at Local 506.

To celebrate, local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Tickets are already gone for the Telekinesis / Love Language show and are going fast for the other three, so don’t waste any time getting your tickets to Superchunk, WILD FLAG & Wye Oak!

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

NPR Music’s Robin Hilton describes Telekinesis’ new edgier sound, “The group’s only permanent member, Michael Benjamin Lerner, writes songs that exude loneliness, heartache and the dizzying grief of dysfunctional relationships. But his agony is packaged in tightly wound, unabashedly upbeat pop songs. Misery has never sounded so worthy of company.”

12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD and LP in the Merge store and your local record store, and you can find Telekinesis on Twitter and Facebook.

See Telekinesis on tour!
* = w/ The Love Language
Feb 18 Bellingham, WA  Jinx Arts Space
Feb 20 Portland, OR  Doug Fir Lounge *
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Versus & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA  The Echo *
Feb 25 San Diego, CA  The Casbah *
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ  The Sail Inn *
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *
Mar 01 Omaha, NE  Slowdown Jr *
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN  7th St. Entry *
Mar 04 Chicago, IL  Schubas *
Mar 05 Detroit, MI  Magic Stick *
Mar 06 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar 07 Montreal, QC  Casa Del Popolo
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA  TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY  Mercury Lounge *
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA  Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 12 Washington, DC  The Red Palace *
Mar 13 Chapel Hill, NC  Local 506
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA  The Earl *
Mar 22 Denver, CO  Hi Dive
Mar 23 Salt Lake City, UT  Kilby Court
Mar 24 Boise, ID  Neurolux
Mar 26 Seattle, WA  The Crocodile
Mar 27 Vancouver, BC  Media Club w/ Wye Oak

On Tuesday, February 15, Michael Benjamin Lerner (@_TELEKINESIS) will offer clues to find a copy of 12 Desperate Straight Lines hidden in another band’s section of one of the stores listed below. To win, visit the participating store in your town, find the misfiled Telekinesis album, and purchase it. The record store employee will then give you a Telekinesis prize pack including a “Please Ask for Help” import 7-inch, two tickets to an upcoming Telekinesis show, a silk-screened poster, Telekinesis pencils, and a Polaroid taken by Michael Benjamin Lerner himself, all housed in a new Merge tote bag designed by The Clientele’s Alasdair MacLean! Good luck!

Seattle, WA – Sonic Boom (Market St.)
Seattle, WA – Sonic Boom (Melrose Ave.)
Seattle, WA – Easy Street (Mercer St.)
Seattle, WA – Easy Street (California Ave.)
Portland, OR – Jackpot (Downtown location @ 9th Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA – Origami Vinyl
El Cerrito, CA – Mod Lang Records
Minneapolis, MN – Electric Fetus
Raleigh, NC – Schoolkids Records
Austin, TX – Waterloo Records
New York, NY – Other Music
Chicago, IL – Laurie’s Planet of Sound

And don’t worry—if there isn’t a participating store in your town, you can still pre-order 12 Desperate Straight Lines on CD and LP in the Merge store for a free Telekinesis pencil!

Stream 12 Desperate Straight Lines in its entirety now at NPR.org, and see the full Telekinesis band on tour beginning February 18 in Bellingham, WA.

“Telekinesis can make darkness feel like sunshine.” ~NPR Music

Pre-order the great new Telekinesis album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines on CD or LP and Jay will send you a Telekinesis pencil!

Follow Telekinesis on twitter for more fun giveaways & contests as the February 15 release date draws closer!

Telekinesis’ self-titled debut was one of my favorite records of 2009, and I’m thrilled that the band is back this year with a glorious followup.  It’s called 12 Desperate Straight Lines. It’s not out until Feb. 15, but we’ve got this exclusive cut as a preview.  It’s the opening track, called “You Turn Clear In The Sun.”

Visit NPR Music for the full story and to stream the new song. 12 Desperate Straight Lines is available for pre-order on CD and LP in the Merge store. And see Telekinesis on tour this spring!

Telekinesis are touring in support of their new album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines which is available for pre-order on CD and LP in the Merge store. The Love Language’s Merge debut, Libraries is available on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store, too!

Full tour dates for both bands are listed below, and follow The Love Language & Telekinesis on twitter.

Telekinesis on tour:
* = w/ The Love Language
Feb 18 Bellingham, WA  Jinx Arts Space
Feb 20 Portland, OR  Doug Fir Lounge *
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Versus & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA  The Echo *
Feb 25 San Diego, CA  The Casbah *
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ  The Sail Inn *
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *
Mar 01 Omaha, NE  Slowdown Jr *
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN  7th St. Entry *
Mar 04 Chicago, IL  Schubas *
Mar 05 Detroit, MI  Magic Stick *
Mar 06 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar 07 Montreal, QC  Casa Del Popolo
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA  TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY  Mercury Lounge *
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA  Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 12 Washington, DC  The Red Palace *
Mar 13 Chapel Hill, NC  Local 506
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA  The Earl *
Mar 22 Denver, CO  Hi Dive
Mar 23 Salt Lake City, UT  Kilby Court
Mar 24 Boise, ID  Neurolux
Mar 26 Seattle, WA  The Crocodile
Mar 27 Vancouver, BC  Media Club

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/ Telekinesis
Jan 14 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge w/ Onward Soldiers
Jan 15 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Feb 20 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge *
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Telekinesis & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA The Echo *
Feb 25 San Diego, CA The Casbah *
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ The Sail Inn *
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *
Mar 01 Omaha, NE Slowdown Jr *
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry *
Mar 04 Chicago, IL Schubas *
Mar 05 Detroit, MI Magic Stick *
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY Mercury Lounge *
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 12 Washington, DC The Red Palace *
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA The Earl *

Spoon: Transference + “Written in Reverse” 7-inch

She & Him: Volume One + Volume Two (CD and LP)

Superchunk: Majesty Shredding + On the Mouth + No Pocky for Kitty (CD and LP)

Destroyer: reissues of City of Daughters + Thief + Streethawk: A Seduction (CD only)

Telekinesis: Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP + Record Store Day 7-inch

The Love Language: Libraries + Record Store Day split 7-inch

Let’s Wrestle: In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s + Record Store Day split 7-inch

The Love Language/Let’s Wrestle + Telekinesis Record Store Day limited-edition 7-inches

Each full-length from Merge freshmen Telekinesis, Wye Oak, The Love Language, and Let’s Wrestle

All orders in the Merge store include free shipping and it’s not too late to use our Holiday Coupon and all orders over $150 get a free tote bag designed by The Clientele’s Alasdair Maclean!

When Telekinesis mastermind Michael Benjamin Lerner set out in July to record songs for the follow-up to his debut album Telekinesis!, he found himself with no band, a case of vertigo, and a wrecked van. The long-distance relationship that inspired his debut album’s songs of wanderlust had ended, and he had just returned from a much-needed escape to Berlin where he banished himself to a room in the warehouse district to write songs from 9 to 5 each day.

With the original recording date scrapped, Michael was inspired (by the heavy, fuzzy bass in Flin Flon’s A-OK) to buy a bass guitar and, in a sudden burst of inspiration, wrote four more songs for the album. His second attempt at recording led him to Portland and Jackpot! Studios. Michael and Chris Walla continued their partnership from Telekinesis! and again recorded to tape. They tossed out all the rules—as they are wont to do when they get together—and, as Michael says, “went a little crazy,” with impromptu dance parties and recording drum parts backwards.

The result of all of this is 12 Desperate Straight Lines, twelve new songs of heartache, anger, and even a little hopefulness. Telekinesis has re-emerged with a new band featuring Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Bob Mould band) on bass and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers) on guitar. The van is fixed, the dizziness is gone, and Michael Benjamin Lerner has returned with more proof that Spin was right when they said, “If you don’t like Telekinesis, your ears don’t work.”

Download “Car Crash” from the new album now at Spin.com.

Pre-order 12 Desperate Straight Lines on CD or LP now in the Merge store. Follow Telekinesis on twitter and see photos from the road on the Telekinesis Flickr page, too!

Track listing:
1. You Turn Clear In The Sun
2. Please Ask For Help
3. 50 Ways
4. I Cannot Love You
5. Dirty Thing
6. Car Crash
7. Palm Of Your Hand
8. I Got You
9. Fever Chill
10. Country Lane
11. Patterns
12. Gotta Get It Right Now

Telekinesis on tour:
Dec 03 Seattle, WA Triple Door
Dec 04 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
Feb 18 Bellingham, WA  Jinx Arts Space
Feb 20 Portland, OR  Doug Fir Lounge
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA TBA
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA  The Echo
Feb 25 San Diego, CA  The Casbah
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ  The Sail Inn
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis
Mar 01 Omaha, NE  Slowdown Jr
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN  7th St. Entry
Mar 04 Chicago, IL  Schubas
Mar 05 Detroit, MI  Magic Stick
Mar 06 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar 07 Montreal, QC  Casa Del Popolo
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA  TT the Bear’s Place
Mar 09 New York, NY  Mercury Lounge
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA  Johnny Brenda’s
Mar 12 Washington, DC  The Red Palace
Mar 13 Chapel Hill, NC  Local 506
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA  The Earl
Mar 22 Denver, CO  Hi Dive
Mar 23 Salt Lake City, UT  Kilby Court
Mar 24 Boise, ID  Neurolux
Mar 26 Seattle, WA  The Crocodile
Mar 27 Vancouver, BC  Media Club

Telekinesis presents the Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP – available today from finer digital retailers, the Merge store and your local record store!

The limited-edition CD is sure to get everyone all warmed up for Telekinesis’ 2011 full-length follow-up to the acclaimed debut Telekinesis! – the EP contains a full-band version of the first album’s “Calling All Doctors,” plus covers of Guided By Voices’ “Game of Pricks” and “The Drawback” (borrowed from the proto-Joy Division project Warsaw) and a dazzling new Michael Benjamin Lerner treat called “Dirty Thing” that just could be the summer hit you’ve been waiting for!

Watch the new and sprightly video for “Dirty Thing” now!

Read the interview at MyNorthwest.com and don’t miss Telekinesis on tour! Telekinesis’ EP, Parallel Seismic Conspiracies is available for pre-order on limited-edition CD in the Merge store. For instant gratification, you can buy the digital download now.

Telekinesis on tour:
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Venue Nightclub    w/ Superchunk
Oct 14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Teenage Fanclub
Oct 15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom    w/ Superchunk & Teenage Fanclub
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box    w/ Superchunk

photo from BBC.co.uk

On September 28^th, 2010 Teenage Fanclub will be performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Here is where you come in…

How would you like a chance to be close to Teenage Fanclub’s performance on the show?

Click here and you will be directed to the “Band Bench” Sweepstakes entry form. Enter for a chance to win seats on our band benches and an opportunity to surround the stage during Teenage Fanclub’s performance.

Please make sure you include the following band code: TEE, in your entry form.

Teenage Fanclub kick off their North American tour tonight in Toronto at the Horsehoe Tavern! Don’t miss your chance to see them! Shadows is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store, and you can still purchase the Radar Brothers / Teenage Fanclub bundle, too!

Click here to see how exciting and fun it is to be in the bleachers!

Teenage Fanclub on tour:
* = w/ Radar Brothers
9/22 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
9/23 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
9/24 Montreal, QC Le National*
9/25 Boston, MA Royale*
9/27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
9/28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom* w/ Radar Brothers AND The Clean
9/30 Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Belle & Sebastian
10/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero*
10/02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club* w/ Radar Brothers & The Vaselines
10/03 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theater*
10/05 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/06 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue*
10/11 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater*
10/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
10/14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/15 Portland, OR Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/16 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret

The new release and tour are sure to get everyone all warmed up for Telekinesis’ 2011 full-length follow-up to the acclaimed debut Telekinesis! – the EP contains a full-band version of the first album’s “Calling All Doctors,” plus covers of Guided By Voices’ “Game of Pricks” and “The Drawback” (borrowed from the proto-Joy Division project Warsaw) and a dazzling new Michael Benjamin Lerner treat called “Dirty Thing” that just could be the summer hit you’ve been waiting for!

Watch the new and sprightly video for “Dirty Thing” now!

To complement the new Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP (and maybe even to begin previewing material that will appear on the upcoming full-length), a new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour starting today and finishing up on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Verbow) on bass and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers) on guitar, the new line-up will be delivering energy and fun nightly.

Telekinesis on tour:
(with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin unless noted)
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO Firebird
Sep 1 Urbana, IL Canopy Club
Sep 2 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sep 4 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
Sep 6 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
Sep 8 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sep 10 Washington, DC Black Cat
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA The Barbary
Sep 12 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
Sep 13 Columbus, OH The Basement
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Venue Nightclub    w/ Superchunk
Oct 14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom    w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box    w/ Superchunk

The new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour beginning August 31 in St. Louis with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and ending on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy on bass (Robert Pollard, Verbow) and Cody Votolato on guitar (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers), the new line-up promises to bring all of the energy and fun you have come to expect from the Telekinesis live experience!

Keep up with Telekinesis on Twitter, and visit the Merge store for a copy of the limited-edition “Dirty Thing” 7-inch while supplies last!

Telekinesis on tour:
* = w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
% = w/ Superchunk
# = w/ Teenage Fanclub
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO – Firebird *
Sep 1 Urbana, IL – Canopy Club *
Sep 2 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall *
Sep 3 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
Sep 4 Toronto, ON – El Mocambo *
Sep 6 Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo *
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s *
Sep 8 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
Sep 10 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary *
Sep 12 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
Sep 13 Columbus, OH – The Basement *
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC – Venue %
Oct 14 Seattle, WA – The Showbox % #
Oct 15 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom % #
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box %

Order the limited-edition new Telekinesis 7″ and pre-order Teenage Fanclub’s new album, Shadows, now in the Merge store.

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.”

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”

With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language!

Thank you for helping to make Record Store Day a rousing success!

Superchunk – “Misfits and Mistakes” b/w “Misfits and Mistakes” (Meatwad Version)
Originally released in 2007 in extremely limited quantity, “Misfits and Mistakes” is the first and only picture disc we have ever produced. Recorded for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, “Misfits and Mistakes” is performed by Superchunk and covered on side B by Meatwad himself!  Each 7-inch picture disc arrives in stores autographed by all four members of Superchunk and is available at a special price exclusively for Record Store Day!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.” These three tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”
With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language! Featuring brand new songs from both bands, these tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Record Store Day is a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.

For more information on Record Store Day and where you can find a store near you, visit recordstoreday.com.

Cass McCombs: Catacombs
He continues to put out mega brilliant records. It scares me. PREfection is sloppy and enchanting, Dropping the Writ is unstoppable, but this new record is absolutely amazing. I am completely smitten with it.

Wild Beasts: Two Dancers
Friends of mine from the beautiful town that is the Lake District, England. I thought their last record was tops. Little did I know. This record is completely gorgeous. I really, truly hope they can break here in the U.S.

David Bazan: Curse Your Branches
A pretty daring record. The last song kills me every single time.

The Clientele: Bonfires on the Heath
This was my soundtrack to our October/November European tour. It’s a record all about fall, my favorite season. The title track is ridiculously good.

The Wooden Birds: Magnolia
Amazing whisper of a record.

Favorite Discoveries of 2009:

Scott Walker
I had no idea. I randomly downloaded the documentary about Scott Walker and the Walker Brothers, and watched it on a flight from North Carolina back to Seattle. When I got home, I immediately went to the record store and bought every Scott Walker record I could find. Scott 4 is pretty much pure genius. I’m absolutely in love with his records.

The Vaselines
I think I was a little young for the Vaselines. They were always one of those bands my older friends would talk about, and I would fake that I knew just to be cool, even though I had never heard them. Well, Sub Pop just put out this great retrospective, and I bought it, and had my mind completely blown up. I am in love with this band so very much.

Warsaw
Pre-Joy Division, but basically a punky-er Joy Division. Totally bratty and rad.

John Phillips
Papa John, from the Mamas and the Papas. He put out a solo record called John, the Wolfking of L.A., which is pretty scary good. You must try to find it at your local record store. You must!

Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra
Hadn’t ever heard their records, but “Sundown, Sundown” is a pretty incredibly genius song. I’ve listened to it endlessly for two months.

Jacques Dutronc
He sounds like he doesn’t give a shit. And that’s oh so very French. It’s like the French Rolling Stones. I love it.

Watch the full set here!